The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-09-10

in the comb, bread and butter and sargou-
zold; occasionally plate of strawber-
ries or gooseberries. A simple diet, for
in that cabin, pies, buildings, tarts, cakes
were unknown quantities. But that peo-
pie can live without them and thrive, live
long and useful lives, is fairly shown by
these men and women.
A little more about my own room. A
room is nothing TO me till it is individu-
alized-till it looks as if it was inhabited.
So soon individualized mine. Threw it
into graceful disorderl The bell heath
er was now in it's prime. 1t is lovely
flower; each sprig bearing little cluster
of tiny bells that are at first either white
or pink. but which as they dry, change to
a rich lavender, almost royal purple. L
gathered this by the apron full on "The
Moss" tied it up into punches and thus
Topped back the curtains Of my tiny VIM
dows. made wreaths OF it and of ivy
and laid them on the pillows of the bed.
Flowers had been sent me by magnifi-
cent boquets, for it was the season of
roses, lilies and lliams, and /
filled up all the odd mugs and glasses in
the cabin, and as q consequence, the deep
recesses of the easements we're each a
bower of beauty. My table was covered
with snow white cloth, the only one the
mistress had ever owned in her sixteen
years of housekeeping. l divided the
table into dining and writing table by
setting in the center line of egg cups
filled with tiny blossoms, while I had
always small glass of gowans or violets
beside each dish that made my meal.
On one corner of the writing table, or
penmanship division, I spread a hand
kerchief with a pretty pink border and
piled up in the center the white and
damask rose leaves I gathered each day
from the bushes, and the latter every
body said was perfect picturep'
had carried with me a few books with
bright covers and those scattered about
carelessly, and they helped individualize
the room, for the Memoirs of Sydney
Smith lay in loving companionship with
the story of the Scottish Chiefs, and the
Letters of Jane Welsh Carlyle were neigh
bors to Psige's Selectionsl Bunches OF
dried grasses hung too from every hook,
the latter hidden by bunch OF heather;
while the rainbow blocks of my "crazy
quilt" enlivened every odd space.
I did not do all this simply to please
my own eyes. felt that ought to be a
home missionary to those housewives in
that neighborhood, whose life is, 80 much
of it, but dreary toll. And wanted
them to see that even an Irish cabin can
be made beautiful with no expense, and
no labor save the walk of half mile or
SO, and the.tying up OF Gods free gifts
with bit of Irvine. Many tired wo-
man sat down there and rested her soul,
while she Toasted her eyes. cts wonder
full what things she can make just out of
weeds, like pictures" said Mrs. N. to her
neighbors. And it was wonderful to
them, that grouping could produce such
artistic effects. For instance, one morn.
ing going only few yards up "the loan
ing" (this is the name given to the mar
row, rough roads that lead from the
main one up to the peat fields),-I gath
cred some bright, wild blossoms for a
center, surrounding them with the seed
vessels of the sorrel, and they with long
slender ferne, making perfect circle OF
these colors, yellow, brown and green.
Far and near the neighbors were call
ed in to see "tbe bunch of flowers, which
the American lady had made out of
weedsp
My dear little room in one end Of the
Irish cabin, the cabin that sheltered the
COWS and the ponies, 1 shall never forget
its sweet, peaceful look, nor the lessons I
learned, as while sitting within its narrow
limits, I watched the patient house moth
or in the kitchen, busy all day long, and
as she said, shaving nothing to show at
night for all her weary work." Moth
ing to show! But in the Lambs book of
life think there is written down, every
night, story full of pathos; and be-
lieve in some one of the fair rooms Of the
heavenly home there is waiting an easy
chair for this woman-this woman who all
her earthly days has walked on mud
floors. and all her earthly nights has
slept under matched roofs.
(To BE ooNTINUED.)